Lok Sabha polls phase I: Baramulla records 34.61% turnout

In the first phase of polling in Jammu and Kashmir, 72.16 per cent of polling took place for the Jammu parliamentary constituency while over 35 per cent polling was witnessed for the Baramulla parliamentary constituency. The impact of their boycott call was still felt in their bastions in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district including Palhallan, Sopore and Baramulla towns, where majority of the people didn’t turn to polling booths.In Bandipora queues of voters were seen waiting to cast their votes outside the polling booths.

Dal turns Dull! Proliferation of weeds takes heavy toll on Dal Lake

For the last over three weeks, de-weeding process of famed Dal Lake has come to a grinding halt resulting in the proliferation of noxious weeds and lily pads.

Due to huge infestation of weeds, large parts of the lake have been covered by algae. Even excessive weeds could be seen around Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC). In February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi toured this portion of the lake.

Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Dal Lake, said de-weeding work has been stopped since August 5.

“Lakes and Water Ways Development Authority (LAWDA) would clean a portion of the lake either manually or mechanically. But for the last three weeks nothing has been done. With the result excessive growth of weeds has engulfed the lake,” Bashir said.

Highest number of MCC violations from JK

The highest number of violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has been reported from Jammu and Kashmir since the code came into effect last month in view of the Lok Sabha elections.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) implemented MCC on March 11, when dates for the elections were announced. Till now 112 cases of violation of the Code across India have come before the commission.

In J&K, which recorded the highest number of such cases, the violations majorly included government employees participating in election rallies, transfers in administration, and cash-for-votes, wherein people were paid to cast their votes in favour of a particular candidate.Most of these violations have been reported from Jammu where ECI noted 19 cases while the rest were reported from Kashmir.

Tulip garden thrown open in Kashmir

Asia’s largest tulip garden was thrown open to the public, marking the beginning of new tourism season in Kashmir. The garden witnessed an impressive footfall of locals and tourists on the first day of its opening this year. Formerly known as Siraj Bagh, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden was opened in 2008 by then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. The idea of the garden, spread over 30 hectares in the foothills of snow-clad Zabarwan range, was conceived to advance the tourism season in the valley by two months. The average life span of tulip flower is three to four weeks, but heavy rains or too much of heat can destroy them. This year the department has planted nearly 12 lakh bulbs of different varieties.

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